Clark Center Forum

About the Clark Center Forum

The Forum for the Kent A. Clark Center for Global Markets is home to the European, Finance, and US Economic Experts Panels as well as a repository of thoughtful, current, and reliable information regarding topics of the day.
Europe

A Quarter Century of the Euro

Question A:

Europe’s economic growth performance over the last 25 years has been measurably better than it would have been in the absence of the single currency.

Question B:

With euro area member states having given up their ability to carry out independent monetary policy, it is substantially more difficult for them to respond effectively to country-specific macroeconomic disturbances.

 
US

Prescription Drugs

Question A:

Allowing Medicare to negotiate prices with pharmaceutical companies will lead to a substantial reduction in the costs of prescription drugs for US retirees.

Question B:

Allowing imports of medicines from Canada will lead to a substantial reduction in the costs of prescription drugs for US consumers without compromising safety.

 
US

Congestion Pricing in New York

This US survey examines: A tolling program for New York City is out for public consultation with proposed charges on vehicles entering the central business district of Manhattan summarized here: https://new.mta.info/document/129191 (a) The proposed tolls on vehicles entering the central business district of Manhattan are likely to lead to a substantial reduction in traffic congestion in the targeted area; (b) The proposed tolls on vehicles entering Manhattan are likely to lead to a substantial increase in traffic congestion just outside the central business district, above 60th Street, in the outer boroughs and New Jersey 
Articles

Watching the Fed. Watching the Fed Watchers

For both the real economy and for financial markets there are few variables as important as the Fed Funds rate. The pricing of stocks and bonds, the direction of the housing market and corporate hiring and investment plans are all ultimately affected, to a greater or lesser degree, by the decisions the Federal Open Market […] 
Articles

The Economics of the war in Ukraine

Almost two years on from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, launched on the 24th February 2022, the fighting continues. The extent and future of Western support for Ukraine, together with questions around the effectiveness of the sanctions regime on Russia, continue to be live political issues in the United States and in parts of Europe. This […]